8/12/2008BY ADAM IPSEN
Latrobe Valley Express (Austalia)
TWO former Newborough residents are on a quest to save a three year-old baby elephant from a lifetime of hardship.
The elephant, `Chhouk' lost one of its feet in a hunting trap in Cambodia after its mother was killed by poachers.
The infant was left to die but was saved by Wildlife Alliance, which had to amputate the foot.
Chhouk now needs a prosthetic leg or he will develop serious bone deformities, particularly to his spine.
Enormous strain will be put on one side of the elephant's body as he grows up.
Fortunately Chhouk is young enough to learn how to use a prosthetic leg, according to zoo officials, however, the task will not be easy.
Former Newborough residents Barb Braniff and Ash Eason own a cafe in Phnom Penh and run tours at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Park where Chhouk lives.
All the animals at the park are rescued from desperate situations.
They have raised money to build a special pool for Chhouk as swimming is an important part of a young elephant's development.
Now they are appealing for people back home in the Valley to help them raise money for a prosthesis.
Ash's parents in Newborough, Jock and Dianne Eason have appealed to the community to help baby Chhouk.
``Obviously he's a lovable little elephant, Barb just thinks he's wonderful and calls him `little ellie'. She'll do anything to give him a normal life,'' Ms Eason said.
She said the other elephant at Phnom Tamao, Lucky, had `painted' pictures that were sold for Chhouk's pool.
``Lucky's a very nice elephant, and I think she (Barb) wants the same life for Chhouk as Lucky's got,'' she said.
A hospital in Cambodia has agreed to make the prosthetic although the cost is yet to be determined.
Money can be donated directly to Chhouk and other elephants at the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre.
Chhouk and other animals can also be sponsored through the Wildlife Alliance website on http://wildlifealliance.org/donate/sponsor-an-animal/
The elephant, `Chhouk' lost one of its feet in a hunting trap in Cambodia after its mother was killed by poachers.
The infant was left to die but was saved by Wildlife Alliance, which had to amputate the foot.
Chhouk now needs a prosthetic leg or he will develop serious bone deformities, particularly to his spine.
Enormous strain will be put on one side of the elephant's body as he grows up.
Fortunately Chhouk is young enough to learn how to use a prosthetic leg, according to zoo officials, however, the task will not be easy.
Former Newborough residents Barb Braniff and Ash Eason own a cafe in Phnom Penh and run tours at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Park where Chhouk lives.
All the animals at the park are rescued from desperate situations.
They have raised money to build a special pool for Chhouk as swimming is an important part of a young elephant's development.
Now they are appealing for people back home in the Valley to help them raise money for a prosthesis.
Ash's parents in Newborough, Jock and Dianne Eason have appealed to the community to help baby Chhouk.
``Obviously he's a lovable little elephant, Barb just thinks he's wonderful and calls him `little ellie'. She'll do anything to give him a normal life,'' Ms Eason said.
She said the other elephant at Phnom Tamao, Lucky, had `painted' pictures that were sold for Chhouk's pool.
``Lucky's a very nice elephant, and I think she (Barb) wants the same life for Chhouk as Lucky's got,'' she said.
A hospital in Cambodia has agreed to make the prosthetic although the cost is yet to be determined.
Money can be donated directly to Chhouk and other elephants at the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre.
Chhouk and other animals can also be sponsored through the Wildlife Alliance website on http://wildlifealliance.org/donate/sponsor-an-animal/
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